Tuesday, November 18, 2008

These are a few of my favorite things.

In honor of Mama's 60th birthday, I thought that I'd write about some of my favorite things. I've been thinking a lot lately about how my priorities have changed thanks to financial issues and lack of free time. It seems that the things that once mattered to me are not as important and there are little things that make me so happy now.

-Having my hair brushed. This is a blast from the past for me. When I was a little kid, my grown up cousin's wife, Debbie, used to brush my hair whenever they would come over to visit. I think that this was my first experience with meditation. I would get this tingling sensation all over my body and I would feel lulled into a deep state of relaxation. Since then, I've been searching for that sensation and while yoga and meditation give me a hint of it... I didn't truly find it again until recently. When my daughter started to brush my hair. And it only works if I'm sitting on the floor and she is on the couch. I don't know what this is all about but if someone else knows, I'd love some information about my experience!

-Getting crafty. The past few days, I've been doing crafts while sitting on a cushion in front of my coffee table. This, too, seems to bring a feeling of peace and relaxation!!

-Wandering the aisles. Another way in which I can achieve this tingly feeling is by wandering the aisles of certain stores. The health food store, the library, Whole Foods, and a bookstore seem to come to mind. It's so relaxing to browse the shelves and usually there is calm music in the background. Sigh.

-Cold weather. I can get out my boots. I dig it.

-Cleared surfaces, lack of clutter, and organization. Last night my daughter said, "Mom, you're organized." Nothing makes me puff up with pride more than thinking about the way in which I "keep house". I may not clean the blades on my ceiling fan (where I grew up, that was a man's job... and besides, I get dizzy whenever I stand with my arms above my head for too long) but by golly, there ain't no crap in my house. I have a couple of boxes for junk and I go through them regularly in order to toss or put away things. The past few weeks I've been cleaning, organizing, and tossing out lots of stuff. I realized that despite my already being organized, I still had pockets of disorder lurking everywhere. When you live in a small house and there are about to be five people in it, you sorta feel the need to delve into those pockets. So, Sunday it was my craft/arts/bday supplies tubs. I emptied two boxes and threw out three bags of things... including mylar balloons. AHHHH, those things make me crazy. What do you do with them? I've cut them up and used them some but there is only so much that a person can do with shiny paper. The green in me cringes. Anyway, I plan to tackle my jewelry box this week. The Captain is going to hang an IKEA hook in my bathroom closet upon which I can hang my necklaces. After that? Who knows!?

-Baby stuff!! We went to Target last week and registered for a few things for the baby! It was so much fun! While we don't need much, we still need a few things as I gave several of He-Man's newborn items away to my cousin after she had a baby boy.

It was very nice of you to share this beautiful thoughts of your with us, I liked very much when my mom brushes my hair, it is very relaxing and helps in reducing my stress, I never thought it the way u told

I also love uncluttered spaces. I'm always trying to keep up as we also live in a small space, but when I achieve the calm, I'm a very happy mama.

The green in me also cringes at balloons of any kind, and yet, the kid in me understands why kids find them so magical. Its a conflict.

We had a neighbor when I was a child who had thick long black hair. She would let me brush it as much as i wanted and I can still feel how wonderful it felt in my hands. Your comment makes me think she must have liked it too, because she never turned me down.

We are a relaxed eclectic homeschooling family living authentically. We love Jesus. Our family makes and sells organic, vegan, ridiculously good chocolate. Our second home is the theater and our hearts live at the beach. In our house there is a lot to celebrate. I stick to no one topic on this blog but I frequently blog about leukemia, food, unschooling, and our daily adventures. Hunter is 8, Ronin is 6, and Drayken is 3.